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Welcome to the Rogue Group GET OUTDOORS! Information SUMMER 2008 TRAIL WORK PROJECT AND BACKPACKING TRIPS led by Al Collinet are now posted. See below The Rogue Group of the Sierra Club includes all of southwestern Oregon, from the Coast, across the Siskiyou and Cascade mountains to Lake County. The Group office is located in Ashland, OR. We are very proud of our Outings Program and our Volunteer Outings Leaders. Our Outings Group is very active, offering as many as 50 outings year round, for all different abilities.

Overnight backpacking trip. Photo by A. Collinet, Curry Section

If you would like more information on how to become a Rogue Group Outings Leader please contact our Outings Chair Darin Banner darin@banneradvisors.com or tel. (541) 531-7623

FREE DOG PACKS: Would you like to backpack with your small dog(s)? Two trail- tested dog packs to fit 14-17 lbs. dogs. Free to 2 good dogs. Telephone Diane, 773-5889.

OVERNIGHT BACKPACKING ALERT!! WE NOW OFFER YEAR-ROUND ADVENTURES!!

We now have two very experienced and highly qualified Overnight Hike Leaders. Their goal is to offer backpacking opportunities year 'round and to teach a variety of backpacking skills to those that might be new to this activity and to the experienced backpackers that want to learn more. Don't have a tent?? that's OK - YOU CAN USE ONE OF OUR BRAND NEW ALL-WEATHER LIGHTWEIGHT AND WATERPROOF SHELTERS. Contact our Outings Chair for more information.

Scroll down to the Overnight Backpacking Additional Information section following the Current Outings Listing.

Outings General Information

You don't have to be a member to participate!

Arrive with adequate food, water and clothing. If in doubt about your ability to complete a hike, please consult with the leader before the trip.

Field guides and humor are welcome.

Please leave your pet at home unless otherwise specified or with prior approval from the leader. Entertainment devices such as mp3 players, ipods and "walkman" are discouraged. Firearms are prohibited.

Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Carpooling is encouraged. Riders traditionally share expenses with drivers depending on vehicle and number of riders and distance to trailhead.

Pick the outing best suited for your skill level and expectations. When in doubt, always contact the Outing Leader for more information. Here are General Ratings Definitions:

• EASY - low elevation gain, well maintained trail, less than 5 miles
• MODERATE - low elevation gain, well maintained trail, between 5 and 10 miles
• DIFFICULT - moderate elevation gain, between 10 and 15 miles
• STRENUOUS - greater than 4000 feet elevation gain, greater than 12 miles, some off trail possible
• VERY STRENUOUS - greater than 5000 feet elevation gain, greater than 15 miles, some off trail possible.

All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver.
If you would like to read the liability waiver before you choose to participate on an outing, refer to: Outings Form or contact the Outings department at (415) 977-5630 for a printed version.

CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. The RGSC does not charge for its Outings.

Current Outings List - area code is 541

(posted June 24, 2008)

Please contact the Outing Leader for start time and meeting place if not listed. Contact the outings leader before 9:00 P.M. prior to the day of the Outing. Overnight Backpacking trips have their own sign-up cut-off time.

Our list will sometimes include hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, depending on snow conditions. Note - We are now listing the outings of KS Wild and the Siskiyou Project - their list follows after the RGSC outings list. Most of their hikes are easy to moderate. These are NOT Sierra Club sponsored outings and are listed only as a service to our members.

JUNE OUTINGS

Saturday June 28 - Grouse Gap - see early wildflowers along the Pacific Crest Trail. 7 miles moderate. Carol Walker 488-8517 and Carol Ingelson 245-6380

JULY OUTINGS

Saturday July 12 - Down Mount Ashland. 8 Miles Moderate. Carol Walker 488-8517

Saturday July 19 - PCT via Tin Cup Trail. 14 Miles Strenuous. Peter Grant 951-9139

**SUMMER 2008 TRAIL WORK PROJECT:

July 19 Saturday - RGSC Trail Clearing Project on Frog Pond Loop Trail in the Red Buttes. It is time to give a little back so others will have access to this wonderful area. The Trail has been overgrown by saddlers oak and other bushes and we will spend about 3 hours clipping them back. Long handled loppers and gloves are all you need to help with this worthwhile task. Short handled loppers will work, but are more tiring. A few small hand saws would be useful for some of the smaller branches. We will leave the large trees for someone else. This is all wilderness area so no power tools are allowed. Bring loppers, a lunch and water and we will relax over our noontime repast. After lunch we can talk about flowers and forests as we snip our way back to the trailhead. Meet at the Star Ranger Station, Upper Applegate Road, between Ruch and Applegate Lake, at 8 am to carpool. There are several options for camping locally on July 18 or July 19 but it is not part of the Sierra Club outing. Contact Al Collinet dewbobal@verizon.net for more information and RSVP, or Kristin Biechler 840-7236.

Sunday, July 20 - Sky Lakes Basin Loop from Cold Springs. 14 Miles Difficult. George Lescher 482-4477

**SUMMER 2008 BACKPACKING TRIP led by Al Collinet:

July 25, 26 and 27 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Towhead Lake in the Red Buttes.

We will be starting out at the Cook and Green Trailhead on the Pacific Coast Trail. Hike is 4.5 miles with a 1718 foot elevation gain. Saturday we will leisurely explore the area based on the group's desires. The area boasts some very unusual rock formations and interesting flora. Participant carpooling opportunities will be facilitated. Costs of transportation will be shared with drivers. More details will be made available to participants. Maggie Purves will be co-leading this trip with me. Space is limited to eight so be sure to make a reservation. Contact Al Collinet dewbobal@verizon.net or Darin Banner 531-7623.

Sunday July 27 - Howard Prairie. 8 Miles Moderate. Carol Walker 488-8517 and Carol Ingelson 245-6380

AUGUST OUTINGS

Tuesday August 7 at 7:00 - Outings Meeting. Call Darin Banner for details 541-531-7623.

Saturday August 9 - Devil's Punchbowl in Six Rivers National Forest. 12 Miles Difficult. George Lescher 482-4477

Saturday August 16 - Hobart Bluff. 7 Miles Moderate. Carol Walker 488-8517 and Carol Ingelson 245-6380

Saturday August 30 - Devil's Peak - Sky Lakes Basin Loop. 14 Miles Strenuous. Peter Grant 951-9139

**SUMMER 2008 BACKPACKING TRIP led by Al Collinet:

Aug 30-31 & Sept 1 Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Mountain Lakes in the Cascades.

Views, lakes and flowers abound this time of the year at this late high elevation location. Mountain Lakes are east of Medford about 60 miles on Hwy 140 near Upper Klamath Lake. Trail is accessed by taking 4 miles of gravel road to the Varney Creek Trailhead. The first day we plan on 4.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1566 feet to Zeb Lake. The second day we will hike 6 miles with an elevation gain of 1606 feet to Lake Harriette. The third day we will travel six miles with an elevation gain of 732 feet and 1194 elevation loss to the trailhead. We will be spending most of our time at over 6500'. Hiking distances are modest and the pace will be set to the slowest participants so we can enjoy this high elevation ecosystem. Participant carpooling opportunities will be facilitated. Costs of transportation will be shared with drivers. We will determine a rendezvous point so we can reach the trailhead about 10am. More details will be made available to participants. Space is limited so be sure to make a reservation. Contact Al Collinet dewbobal@verizon.net or Darin Banner 531-7623.

OVERNIGHT BACKPACKING TRIPS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Downlaod a copy of Al Collinet's "Suggested Personal Backpacking Gear." PDF here.GEAR LIST

Download a copy of a suggested "ULTRA LIGHT BACKPACKING GEAR" list from a National Sierra Club 2005 outing and updated by RGSC member Ken Deveney. PDF here. ULTRA LIGHT

Darin Banner darin@banneradvisors.com or tel. (541) 531-7623
Al Collinet dewbobal@verizon.net

Hikes offered by KS Wild with Siskiyou Project - THESE ARE NOT SIERRA CLUB SPONSORED HIKES- THEY ARE LISTED AS A SERVICE TO OUR MEMBERS.

Hike the Wild Rogue River - Beginning in May, join KS Wild and Siskiyou Project on the last Saturday of every month for a hike into proposed Wilderness along the Lower Rogue River. Enjoy diverse wild forests, extraordinary wildlife viewing and clear creeks tumbling into the mighty Rogue. Carpools leave the Gooseberries Natural Foods parking lot in Grants Pass at 10am. Bring hiking shoes, clothing layers, food and water. Moderate, approximately 5-7 miles.

Saturdays - May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, Sept. 27, Oct. 25

"Whopper" Hike Series Starts May 3 - In 2007, the Bureau of Land Management released a draft proposal called the Western Oregon Plan Revisions, also known as WOPR, which would guide the management of 2.5 million acres of public forests in western Oregon. The WOPR would remove these forests from the scientific framework of the Northwest Forest Plan. The agency's preferred alternative calls for widespread clearcutting, reduced stream and salmon buffers and a sevenfold increase in logging old-growth trees. In addition, the plan proposes 13 OHV "emphasis areas" for southwest Oregon where motorized recreation would take priority over other uses. Join KS Wild for a hike to Medford District BLM public lands that would be affected by this whopper of a plan.

Bring good hiking shoes, water, food and clothing layers. For more information, starting times and locations, if not listed, call
488-5789 or email Lesley Adams lesley@kswild.org

Saturday May 3: Illinois Valley: Lone Pine Prospect trail. This historic trail offers an overlook of the Squaw Creek drainage, old-growth trees, wildflowers and rare serpentine plant communities. We will walk through part of the Medford BLM's Anderson West Timber Sale. Easy-moderate, 3 mile roundtrip. Meet at the Ray's Market in Selma at 10am.

Saturday June 21: Little Applegate Valley

Saturday August 16: Moon Prairie, Indian Plateau

Saturday September 20: Long Gulch, Applegate Valley

Other Southern Oregon Outings Opportunities:

Other outings and activities are announced in our monthly newsletter. To see all of the activities we have published for our area be sure to download the latest edition of our newsletter The Rogue Walker.

Links to Other Organizations with outings in our area:

Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center
KS Wild is an advocate for the forests and wildlife of the Klamath and Rogue watersheds of northwest California and southwest Oregon. They offer many outings and activities in our area.

Siskiyou Project
Based near the rural community of Cave Junction, their primary purpose is to gain permanent protection for the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area. They offer many outings and acitivities in that area.

Siskiyou Field Institute
SFI invites you to join them in exploring the unique natural history of Southwestern Oregon and Northern California's rugged Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains. Dedicated naturalists lead you in discovering the unique geology, flora and fauna of this region. There's something for everyone: wildflower illustration, bird watching, rafting trips, youth camps, technical courses and more.

This page last updated Tuesday, June 24, 2008

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